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If you’ve come across any of my cooking or kitchen pieces here at The Quality Edit, you know that I have an overarching theme in my life: I love good food and the process of making it. Throughout my years as a product tester and writer, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to try a ton of different meats, snacks, cookware, beverages, and more.
If it’s something that involves eating, I’ve probably tried it out.
So when I came across the Tumbler Knife Sharpener Kit, I was first confused, and then curious. “How does this thing work?” I thought to myself, and then, “Does it actually sharpen knives?”
We like
- Totally unique sharpening method
- Solid hardwood body
- Two different angles for different blades
- It has diamond abrasions for the most effective sharpening
- Magnets to keep your knife stay put
- Great for gifting
We don't like
- Lots of pieces for just one purpose
- Fairly high price point
Why You Need a Sharp Knife
It may sound contradictory, but having a really sharp knife is actually a lot safer than a dull one. Sharp knives allow you to cut through meat, fruits, and vegetables in one easy, swift motion. If you’ve ever compared a super high-quality knife with a basic budget knife after a few uses, you can tell how much easier a good knife is to use.
Dull knives make things more difficult, and dangerous. Looking at you, tomatoes. When a knife isn’t as sharp as it should be, it’s susceptible to slide away from (rather than through) the object you’re trying to cut. One bad turn and you could be heading to the ER with a bloody finger. No thank you.
Growing up working in restaurants, I’ve always used either a rod or a handheld. I’ve found it hard to tell if the rod was even working and the handhelds tend to wear down over time, making them about as useful as a paper weight.
Unboxing and First Impressions
I received the Tumbler in a standard cardboard box at my doorstep. I was also surprisingly excited to receive this kitchen tool. (Never thought I’d write those words!)
The packaging wasn’t anything special: some packing paper and the sealed individual boxes containing the Sharpener Set with an instructions booklet, the Protective Stand, and a leather strop for polishing. However, I was immediately impressed by the weight of each item. I could tell these weren’t just any cheaply-made piece of plastic.
Both the Protective Stand and the leather strop have sticky rubber knobs on the base to hold them in place—especially useful for storing them on the countertop. The Tumbler’s overall quality build certainly stuck out.
We like
We don't like
We like
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Steps for A Sharp Knife
Once I had everything out of its packaging, I was ready to see what all the buzz was about: Time to clean up my kitchen cutlery.
Tumbler gives eight small steps in the physical booklet to sharpen a knife, but they can be broken down into just five steps:
- First, place the magnetic square holder on a stable surface and attach the knife to the preferred sharpening angle.
- Start with the Diamond side of the rolling sharpener in one hand, and hold the magnetic square holder in the other hand. Move the roller back and forth effortlessly.
- Switch the roller over to the Helix side and repeat the back-and-forth motion a maximum of six times to smooth out the burr created from the diamond side.
- Now that one side of the knife is sharpened, flip the knife 180 degrees and repeat the above on the other side.
- Once both sides have been sharpened, clean the blade off with a dry towel. A good sharpening will produce a dark dust from the knife being shaved down.
I tested this with my standard chef’s blade and sharpening was as simple as it sounds. To measure the effectiveness of the Tumbler, I conducted a paper cut test before and after sharpening.
Here’s how my knife cut through paper before sharpening:
And here’s how my knife cut after sharpening:
As you can see, the sharp blade went much deeper after sharpening.
Parting Thoughts
The Tumbler Knife Sharpener definitely works, simple as that. As I mentioned before, I’ve worked in kitchens since high school and knives were always the most important tool in the restaurant. (Chipotle’s peppers and onions that we all love have to get cut somehow!) I’ve used both rod and handheld sharpeners before and have always doubted their efficacy, as I usually would have to use them again after a few more cuts.
Tumbler is built different. The materials are durable and you can feel the difference when holding the components in your hand—they’re heavy. While you only need the main roller and magnetic pad, I’d also suggest the Protective Stand as it securely holds the items and it provides a nice display on countertops.
At around $100, I recommend the Tumbler for anyone who is a serious home chef. If you cut vegetables or anything else a lot, then the investment in a good sharpener will cost a lot less than the medical bill you could incur from a small blade, and you likely have nice knives so it’s smart to take good care of them.
Get a clean cut today with Tumbler.
